Language Degrees Online

Language of Instruction: Dutch

Nobody knows how many languages are spoken on our planet: 5000 perhaps? What we do know is that they can be divided into language families. Dutch, German and English, for instance, are closely related; together with languages such as Greek, Latin and Sanskrit they belong to the large Indo-European language family. Other languages, such as Vietnamese or the Indian Nahuatl, have a completely different structure and origin.

The differences between languages are enormous, but common systems lie at the basis of all languages, as well as the human talent for speech. Linguists research how these systems work and how they can be used in relation to new communication media, such as talking computers. One of the prerequisites for linguistics is therefore a talent and a taste for the exact sciences.

In addition, linguistics students learn to make comparisons between the known European languages and completely different languages, of which many are taught in Leiden. Last but not least, students are taught to work at the interface of linguistics with many other fields, such as logic, neurology and psychology. An example of such an interdisciplinary discipline is the study of how children acquire their native language. Such a broad interdisciplinary approach leads to the study of human language from a number of different angles.
Practical Studies

Following the basic programme, the Linguistics programme can be combined with one of the ‘practical studies’ or PraktijkStudies (Management, European Union Studies or Journalism and New Media) or with other options and, possibly, an internship.

What do Dutch, Russian and Hindi have in common? They are all Indo-European languages. This well-known language family moreover counts among its members Spanish, Latin, Armenian and Persian.

A number of Indo-European languages were also some of the earliest written languages in the world: Classical Greek, Ancient Sanskrit and Hittite (a cuneiform language dating to ca. 1500 BC) are just a few examples. In this programme, students are given the opportunity to learn how languages belonging to this family relate to each other historically. The programme focuses both on Indo-European comparative linguistics and historical linguistics (change of sound and meaning). It includes topics such as different languages and scripts, as well as linguistic subjects such as historical comparative linguistics, historical grammar and phonetics.
Bachelor’s Programme
Language of Instruction: Dutch
From the first year, students are taught to work with languages such as Greek, Sanskrit and Gothic. In the course of the second and third year, each student chooses one more Indo-European language from the many language courses that Leiden University has to offer. The options include Classical languages, Slavic, Persian and Indian languages.
Practical Studies

Following the basic programme, the Comparative Indo-European Linguistics programme can be combined with one of the ‘practical studies’ or PraktijkStudies (Management, European Union Studies or Journalism and New Media) or with other options and, possibly, an internship.

Knowledge of other languages opens the door to diverse cultures, traditions, and perspectives on an increasingly interconnected world, and it promotes deeper insight into one’s own language and culture. Proficiency in foreign languages is indispensable in a broad range of professions such as business, government, international affairs, journalism, education, and law.

Our department teaches eight different languages. We offer major and minor degrees in French, German, and Spanish, and minors in Chinese, Japanese, and Russian. We also teach Arabic and Hebrew. All language courses are instructed in the target language. In addition, literature and culture courses taught in English play an increasing role in area studies. Our department contributes significantly to interdisciplinary majors such as Asian Studies, the new major in Global Studies, and Russian Studies. We also contribute widely to the Global Citizenship Program. In response to growing demand, we are expanding our Latin American Studies Program which currently offers a minor.

Our department encourages international exchanges, and we collaborate closely with Lehigh’s Study Abroad Office. Almost all of our language majors enjoy an educational experience abroad. A major in Modern Languages and Literature at Lehigh provides excellent preparation for any professional career in today’s globalized world.